Duolingo English Test study plan: 2 weeks to your target score
The Duolingo English Test is online, about an hour long and many universities accept it, so people often book it at short notice. This prompt has your todo.is agent plan two or three weeks of short daily drills for each question type, give feedback on your writing and speaking samples, and schedule the free practice tests.
The prompt
- Make me a Duolingo English Test study plan. I want [TARGET SCORE] and my test is on [TEST DATE]. My last practice test score was [PRACTICE SCORE]. I can study [DAILY TIME]. First check the current question types and the score my school needs, with links: [SCHOOL OR PROGRAM]. Plan daily timed drills for every question type, more time on my lowest subscore, and a free official practice test every few days. Give me a writing and a speaking prompt each day. When I send my answers (text or voice note), give me feedback on vocabulary, grammar and length. Send the plan as a PDF and the day's drills at [TIME] on WhatsApp.
What to change
- [TARGET SCORE]: E.g. "120". Scores run from 10 to 160.
- [TEST DATE]: When you plan to take it. You can take it from home at any time.
- [PRACTICE SCORE]: From the free practice test on the official site, e.g. "105, lowest subscore Production".
- [DAILY TIME]: E.g. "45 minutes".
- [SCHOOL OR PROGRAM]: E.g. "University of Example, MSc Data Science". Or "none".
- [TIME]: E.g. "18:00".
Example result
- Duolingo English Test plan: 14 days, 105 to 120
- Test: March 30 · 45 minutes a day · Lowest subscore: Production · School needs 115 overall
- The test
- • About one hour, online, at home. Adaptive: questions get harder as you answer well.
- • Overall score 10 to 160, with subscores for Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation and Production
- • Results usually arrive within a couple of days. Check the official site for current rules and room requirements.
- Question types to drill
- • Read and Complete: fill missing letters in a paragraph
- • Read and Select: choose real English words from a list
- • Listen and Type: type the sentence you hear
- • Read Aloud: read a sentence clearly
- • Write About the Photo and Speak About the Photo
- • Read, Then Write and Read, Then Speak, Listen, Then Speak
- • Interactive Reading, Interactive Listening and Interactive Writing
- • Writing Sample and Speaking Sample: longer answers at the end
- Daily routine (45 min)
- • 10 min: Read and Complete and Read and Select, timed
- • 10 min: Listen and Type, then check spelling
- • 15 min: one writing prompt (Production): use the full time, aim for 50+ words for photo tasks and 100+ for longer ones
- • 10 min: one speaking prompt, recorded and sent as a voice note
- Days
- • Days 1, 5, 9, 13: free official practice test
- • Days 2 to 4: Production focus. Build answers with: main idea, two details, one example.
- • Days 6 to 8: Interactive Reading and Listening
- • Days 10 to 12: full timed sections, mixed
- • Day 14: rest and check your setup: quiet room, ID, ears visible, no notes
- Sample feedback (Write About the Photo)
- Good: clear description, 52 words. Fix: "There is many people" → "There are many people". Add a sentence about what might happen next to show range.
How to do it with todo.is
- Take the free practice test, then fill in your score, target and date.
- Paste the prompt on the Today screen in todo.is, or send it to your agent on WhatsApp.
- Each day you get the drills. Reply with your writing as text and your speaking as a voice note.
- Before test day, ask your agent for a checklist of the room and ID rules from the official site.
Tips for a better result
- Use all the time on writing and speaking tasks. Short answers score lower even if they are correct.
- Read and Select punishes guessing. Only choose words you are sure are real English.
- Practise in the same room and on the same computer you will use for the test.
- Ask your agent to check your school's minimum score and subscore rules before you book.
Duolingo English Test study plan: FAQ
- How long should I prepare for the Duolingo English Test? If your English is already good, 1 to 3 weeks of practice with the question types is often enough. To raise your level, plan longer.
- Is the Duolingo English Test accepted by universities? Many universities accept it, but not all, and each sets its own minimum. Check your program's admissions page.
- Can I retake the Duolingo English Test? Yes. There is a limit on how many times you can take it in a set period. Check the current rule on the official site.
- Can todo.is grade my speaking? Your agent transcribes your voice note and gives feedback on vocabulary, grammar and length. It is practice feedback, not an official score.
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